White Elephant Hotel Residences

Nantucket, MA

As associated architects to Arrowstreet, Studio G produced drawings for the development and rehabilitation of several buildings at the White Elephant Hotel Residences on Nantucket. Manchester House and 12 N. Water St. are historic buildings on the grounds of the former Harbor House Village Resort on Nantucket island. While the majority of the existing buildings on the site were demolished in order to construct larger, more marketable resort facilities, these two were designated to be preserved and renovated, under the guidelines of the Nantucket Historic District Commission (HDC).

Studio G Architects produced and coordinated the work from Design Development through the completion of Construction Documents. Manchester House was reconfigured to capture attic space and create two units with cathedral ceilings and loft area. Each includes living and dining rooms, kitchenette, and laundry. Structure had to be upgraded, stairs to be rebuilt and new ones inserted, and all systems replaced. The exterior required new sheathing, siding, and trim. Front porches and stairs had to be rebuilt or constructed new to match the historic character. Two new buildings were designed to match the historic character of Nantucket in massing, porches, and detailing. Accessibility features such as ramps and handrails are fully integrated into the design, creating a unified esthetic.